With three IndyCar Series championships and a dramatic Indianapolis 500-Mile Race victory to his name, Sam Hornish Jr. is used to the spotlight. That doesn't mean he enjoys public speaking. source: indycar.com / Eric Powell Hornish recently helped Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 500 Festival officials unveil the artwork for the 2007 Indianapolis 500 ticket - which features Hornish draped in an American flag - and the theme for the 2007 500 Festival and 91st Indy 500: "Spirit and Speed." Hornish also is featured on the "Spirit and Speed" art, with fists thrust in the air in triumph after winning "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" last May. "It's a little bit stressful (to participate in such events) because you never thought that you're going to be able to do any of these things, and you didn't even know about many of them," Hornish said. "And you're representing the Speedway, the Indy Racing League, myself and Roger (Penske, Hornish's team owner). There's a lot of people you're trying to make look good. I'm working at it." Hornish said he already is thinking about a repeat at Indy, but there is one thing he will not have to carry through the main gate at IMS in early May 2007 and on Race Day May 27: the burden that haunted him throughout six previous failed attempts to win the "500." "I'm still very hungry to go back and win another, but there's a lot less pressure," he said. "You've done it (winning). Now you see if you can go back and do it again, and if you can't, you see if you can the next year." While Hornish can expect an all-out effort from his No. 6 Team Penske crew, teammate Helio Castroneves will be one of his fiercest rivals. Two-time Indy 500 winner Castroneves is the last driver to capture the race in consecutive years (2001-02). When asked if Castroneves still holds the team bragging rights thanks to his multiple victories, Hornish stood his ground.
Recent Articles
|
Racing Multimedia
Recommendations |